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Show The Children William and Margaret are seniors in Oberlin College, and even to fond parents seem to be doing well! Arthur and Francis are in the North China American School at Tung Hsien, near Peking. They will have a time with their parents at Christmas. Chinese children are loved by their parents, too, and it's only the stress of famine which results in the sale of girls and sometimes boys. Perhaps the sale-price is a sack of grain, or a few dollars, though the older girls bring higher prices. A church member, hearing me ask the routine question as to whether there were any children for sale in her extremely poor village, quickly asked "How old a child do you want?" They would keep their dear ones if they could. Thousands of families have emigrated to Manchuria and elsewhere,- a good solution of the problem if survival results. Postage Dne No wonder if we do not write letters. Hearts and hands are full, and, besides it all, many mission and famine problems press. Never was there more need of cooperation, and our special need is for an occasional 'vote of confidence" in the form of a check or bank draft, sent us to be used in maintaining the health campaign work or the relief work. The need will be great till wheat harvest next June. May be Thanksgiving will have a new meaning if we make others thankful by extending "hands across the sea". War in China is over, let us hope for ever, and we all prayerfully rejoice. We do not hesitate to call for partners in this social service work, for the practical lines of work referred to have no regular support from the American Board or other source. A Noblewoman Fabiola carried her own patients up her marble stairs, and her service was indeed a noble one, but no more so than the modern and efficient service of Myra Sawyer, who "stayed by the stuff", and nursed night and day during the warring and risky times of the summer. All the foreigners had been advised to leave, but what real nurse would desert her patients or nurses? The Chinese co-workers were inspired to be equally devoted. There were ample and sufficient reasons why the other foreigners evacuated, but had Miss Sawyer not helped hold the fort, the buildings would have been occupied by Nationalist or other soldiers. As it was every available room and bed was occupied by patients, either soldiers or civilians. Military and civil authorities alike speak in praise of Miss Sawyer's work We ought to have been on hand, but arrived for the aftermath only. Interest Rates Interest rates in famine areas, where money is indeed nigh impossible to borrow, are from 5 to 15 percent a month for small loans, and in one place one percent a tia$l Many farm animals have been sold, and one sees men and boys helping to pull the plow and harrow. Adobe brick houses (the common habitation) are sold for the fuel in the timbers, doors, and windows. One simply MUST "ve in hopes of a better time coming. We cannot write often. This will surely be taken as our message of personal greeting, and we mention the high interest rates because our cordial Christmas Greetings are to bear interest to December 25th at Chinese rates. Your interest in the China work is an inspiration. Cordially yours, Emma Boose Tucker. Tehchow, Shantun^CjyL I N A . October 10l H>28. |
